California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials captured a bear Monday at Hansen Dam, a day after it caused a stir among residents and prompted a police response.
A dramatic scene unfolded Sunday at the Hansen Dam Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley near Pacoima when an ursine intruder came too close to comfort the weekend crowds at the park.
In video obtained by KTLA, a large bear could be seen walking near a crowd of several dozen onlookers.
A woman hugs a child at the site where a wandering bear was captured Monday in the Hansen Dam neighborhood.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Police and Fish and Wildlife officials were at the scene Sunday, according to KTLA. They were there again Monday when the bear started moving.
Video of the chase broadcast by KTLA showed the bear running through the neighborhood as residents kept their distance and park rangers leaned in to shoot. The bear was eventually hit with a dart and fell asleep on top of a cinder block wall dividing two properties, with its body on either side.
“We captured the bear today, took its vital signs, put a collar on it and put an ear tag on it,” Fish and Wildlife spokesman Steve Gonzalez said Monday.
The bear is 45 years old and weighs 275 pounds, a healthy weight, Gonzalez said. After being tagged and collared, the animal was released into the Angeles National Forest.
“We call it do no harm, do no evil,” González said, as there were no reports of home invasions or incidents involving people. “This is the first time a crime has been committed.”
